Also, he’s totally a closeted lush.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

This was adorable, and surprisingly insightful. Of course, I’m always susceptible to books that feature socially challenged individuals, especially ones that are male, so there was probably no way I wasn’t going to like this book. I’m glad to say that not only did I like it, I very very much liked it, and I can’t wait to see the movie version (also written by Simsion — actually, I believe the script came first, and then he wrote the novel).

A lot of people have been calling The Rosie Project “Sheldon Cooper Finds a Wife,” or some variation thereof*, but I think that description does this book and its hero somewhat of a disservice (as much as I love and identify with Sheldon Cooper). The only thing Don Tillman, professor of genetics, and Sheldon Cooper, professor of the left corner of the couch, have in common is that they both probably have Asperger’s syndrome (both undiagnosed). But where Sheldon is snarky and arrogant and verrrry proud of his intelligence (to the point where he holds it over others), Don is sweet and kind and extremely earnest. He is also very concerned with what others think about him, also unlike Sheldon Cooper. Don spends most of his life developing coping strategies for different social situations, and his life is scheduled out to the point where it significantly throws his schedule seriously out of whack if he can’t fit in that 72 minute bathroom cleaning session. He eats the same meals on a revolving seven day menu. He is a creature of schedule and habit and meticulous methodology, because that’s how he’s learned to cope in a world of feelings, chaos, and disorganization, full of people that mostly seem to possess qualities Don feels that he lacks.

*I have read at least three reviews of this book that use almost that exact verbiage. So at least we’re all on the same page culturally? Or something?

It’s when a friend (one of only three that he has) tells him he would make a wonderful husband that he seriously contemplates getting married, something he had previously given up on. And like every other aspect of his life, he is determined to come at this whole finding a wife thing with a method and a process. And so The Wife Project is born. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be anyone who actually qualifies for the rigourous standards Don has set for his prospective mate. It’s when he meets Rosie (who is very quickly disqualified from The Wife Project) that Don’s life takes a turn. The Wife Project turns into The Rosie Project, as Don uses his genetics background to help Rosie track down her biological father.

From there, I’m pretty sure you can guess how almost everything turns out, but that doesn’t mean the book isn’t worth reading. Actually, as adorable as Don falling in love with Rosie is, the real star attraction of the book is Don’s mental and emotional arc. I don’t want to say too much more about it, except that Don has let his coping strategies take over his life, and mixing someone like Rosie (a smoker, just for starters) into his meticulous planning is a surefire explosion waiting to happen.

In the end, it’s Don himself that made me love this book. When he says things like this, regarding the scale of human behavior and his place on it:

“I formed a provisional conclusion that most of these were simply variations in human brain function that had been inappropriately medicalised because they did not fit social norms – constructed social norms – that reflected the most common human configuration rather than the full range.”

When he contemplates his reasons for creating The Wife Project:

“And it dawned on me that I had not designed the questionnaire to find a woman I could accept, but to find someone who might accept me.”

Or, when we see him overwhelmed by his own circumstances:

“You’re unbelievable,’ said Rosie. ‘Look at me when I’m talking.’ I kept looking out the window. I was already over-stimulated. ‘I know what you look like.”

And later, when Rosie has asked if he finds her attractive:

“Gene told me the next day that I got it wrong. But he was not in a taxi, after an evening of total sensory overload, with the most beautiful woman in the world. I believed I did well. I detected the trick question. I wanted Rosie to like me, and I remembered her passionate statement about men treating women as objects. She was testing to see if I saw her as an object or as a person. Obviously the correct answer was the latter. ‘I haven’t really noticed,’ I told the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Basically, I can’t wait to see this movie, and I’d reccommend this book to anyone seeking a fun, satisfying feel good book. I feel like this is the kind of book that you like right away, and the longer it sits in your brain, the more you like it.

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Comments

Great review, as always. I’ve heard such good things about this book (although not a single one of the reviews I’ve read on various romance blog used the comparison with Sheldon Cooper, so I guess that says something about the pop culture references of romance bloggers too). I subsequently bought it in e-book when it was on sale a while back, and it’s just lingering on my TBR shelf. I really should get round to picking it up.

I just finished this book and am delighted to have somebody to discuss it with!

The Rosie Project is not something I would normally pick up and I’m so glad I did! Don is a delight as is his Wife Project. I totally want to date Don just to see what would happen. (I don’t smoke but would likely choose the wrong flavor of ice cream!)

I also saw the Sheldon Cooper connections elsewhere and like you, think they’re unfair. Sheldon is a singularly self-involved person. Don is actively working towards more successful integration with the world. Sure there is a ton of humor mined from his ridged adherence to plans and schedules, as well as his capacity to master a new skill seemingly overnight. But he is not at all superior. In fact he seems charmingly aware that he puts people off, he just can’t stop himself.

I was recently lamenting the fact that all the recent (maybe within the past 10 years?) romantic comedy movies are terrible. But if the Rosie Project is half as fun as the book, the movie could be great.

Any book that can be described as a good romantic comedy in book form is likely to be a big hit with me. I think Attachments by Rainbow Rowell would make an amazing romantic comedy, but knowing Hollywood and adaptations, they would ruin it, and then I’d have to cut someone.

I couldn’t find any casting rumors online. Personally I would love somebody like a Joseph Gordon Levitt. Not sure about Rosie though? I wouldn’t want her to be too classically gorgeous but somebody attractive with tons of personality. What about Ellen Page? Anybody else have any ideas?

Malin I would ADORE Attachments in movie form. But how would they play the email exchange component?

I’m not sure. They might have to change it somehow, but that would ruin so much of the charm. Considering the generally dismal state of romantic comedies nowadays, I think I may have to settle for good romantic comedies in book form.

You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sarra Manning is another really sweet book played out exactly like a good romantic comedy. You’re not going to be massively surprised at anything that happens in the plot, but you’re going to have a good time with the characters and you wish them happiness.

You all just won’t let me give this book a pass, will you? With so many people speaking so highly of it, I’m going to have to at least give it a try. Perhaps it’ll surprise me like Wonder, another highly touted book my fellow Cannonballers pointed me in the direction of that I went into prepared not to like.

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